Gibson Nyikadzino-Zimpapers Politics Hub
BRITAIN’S House of Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has committed to using his authority and influence to support Zimbabwe’s readmission to the Commonwealth.
The development was disclosed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, following a meeting with Sir Lindsay during a working visit to the United Kingdom. Advocate Mudenda was leading a delegation from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Addressing embassy officials, senior government representatives, ZANU PF members, and the Zimbabwean diaspora business community at Zimbabwe House in London, Advocate Mudenda stated that the meeting demonstrated a shared historical empathy between the two nations.
“What came out of our discussion was that the Speaker (Sir Hoyle) has committed himself to use his authority and influence to speak to the power of that being, that Zimbabwe must be re-accepted in the Commonwealth. Our association with the Commonwealth is born from history. And among other things that we discussed, which is positive, was that we have to exchange parliamentary best practises. Our parliamentary processes are literally similar in many respects,” Advocate Mudenda said.
Zimbabwe withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2003 amid a bilateral dispute with London. The country applied to rejoin the organisation in 2018 under the Second Republic, a process that remains ongoing. Critics argue that readmission should be withheld, claiming Zimbabwe fails to meet required standards regarding human rights, democratic processes, and the rule of law.
Advocate Mudenda indicated that as the Zimbabwean and British parliaments pursue rapprochement, future engagements would treat both nations as sovereign equals, in accordance with Article 2 of the United Nations Charter. He noted that his acceptance of the invitation to the UK was driven by a belief in parliamentary diplomacy.
“Parliamentary diplomacy is there to work with executive diplomacy at the level of the Head of State in Government. It is critical because when there are changes in our society, the law must be in place to provide the legal framework. The United Nations Charter, Article 2, is clear that all nations are equal. And their sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. So I came here not as a speaker from a former colony, but as a speaker on equal terms,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the UK, Colonel (Retired) Christian Katsande, said the inaugural parliamentary visit marked a significant step toward rebuilding bilateral relations.
“The visit provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, deepen mutual understanding and establish the relationships on which we can build further cooperation. Your engagements have demonstrated the value of Parliamentary diplomacy, direct dialogue, enabling Parliamentarians to compare approaches and exchange ideas, understand institutional priorities and identify common challenges, thereby adding depth to our bilateral relations and sustaining communication between our legislatures,” Colonel Katsande said.
The visit comes as Zimbabwe and the UK continue efforts to rebuild diplomatic trust.
